Car-coupling



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H. SOMMERPELD.

GAR COUPLING NO. 468,311.

Wflnesses;

HEINRICH SOMMERFELD, OF CANTON,

PATENT OFFICE.

KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HARRY C. LEWIS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,311, dated February 2, 1892.

Application filed August 10, 1891.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HEINRICH SOMMERFELD, of (lanton, McPherson county, Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gar-Couplers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to the couplings of railway-cars; and the objects of my invention are to produce a car-coupling which shall be simple, strong, and durable in construction, which shall be adapted for application to both passenger and freight cars, and which shall be automatic in its action and capable of forming a permanent and strong connection between the cars of a train; furthermore, to produce a car-coupling which shall be so constructed as to avoid all necessity of the operator entering between the cars either in coupling or uncoupling the same, thus avoiding the danger to life and limb heretofore encountered during such operations.

To the above purposes my invention consists in certain peculiar and novel features of construction and arrangement, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an under side plan View of the adjacent ends of two railway-cars with my improved coupling applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detached perspective view of one of the coupling-heads and its connected lever for moving the said head out of coupling position, the draw-bar, and its immediate operative connections.

In said drawings, 1 and 2 designate the bodies of two railway-cars, the body 1 being that of a passenger-carand the body 2 that of a freight or baggage or other similar car. To the under side of each of these car-bodies at each end thereof are bolted, as at 6, two parallel longitudinal beams or timbers 3, to the under sides of the outer ends of which is bolted, as at 5, a strong metal cross -plate 4:. Between the two timbers or beams 3, at the inner parts of the same, is placed a thrustplate 7, the rearwardlyextending ends 8 of Serial No. 102,261. (No model.)

inner end of said stem, and the out-er end of said spring 13 hearing against the inner side of the thrust-plate 7. The inner end of the spring 14 bears against the outer side of the thrust-plate '7, while the outer end of said spring M bears against the inner end of the enlarged portion of the draw-bar 12. A stud 16 depends from the under side of the drawbar 12 and is designed to come into contact with the inner edge of the cross-plate 4, if excessive pulling strain be brought to bear upon said bar, and thus prevent the draw-bar from being pulled entirely out of the car. To the inner side of one of the timbers or beams 3 is secured a stout leaf-spring 17, the inner end of which is retained in position against said side of the beam by a strong retaining-plate 18, and the outer end of which spring presses laterally against the corresponding side of the draw-bar 12, the tendency of the spring 17 being to force the draw-bar laterally against the stop 11.

Upon the outer end of each draw-bar 12 is formed or suitably secured a draw-head 19, the outer portion of which is formed with two jaws 20 and 21. The jaw-20 is of approximately U or hook form, the inner portion of said jaw extending horizontally and somewhat laterally from the body of the draw-head and its outer end curving inwardly, as shown. The companion jaw 21 is much shorter than the jaw 20 and extends horizontally and laterally from the body of the draw-head, an open space or mouth thus intervening between the two jaws. Each jaw 21 is formed at its outer end with a transverse opening 22, which is designed to receive a detachable hook 23, the said hooks 23 being each secured to the outer or opposite end of a chain 24, and each of said chains being secured at its inner end to the under side of the car-body by a pin or bolt, as at 25. It will thus be seen that this arrangement is such that should the draw or coupling heads become accidentally dis connected the chains 24 will prevent a total separation of the two cars, and it will also be seen that while the train is rounding curves the chains 24 will be drawn taut and will hold the car at one side thereof. If the car he a. freightrcar, as 2, the chain 27 extends around a pulley or sheave 3.1, which is journaled in. a suitable bracket 32 at onesideof the end of the car, and the inner end of said chain is connected to one end of an operating-lever 33., This lever 33 is pivoted, as at 34., in a bracket 35, bolted or otherwise firmly secured to the bottom of the car near oneside thereof. This lever 33 works horizontally beneath .a stop-bar 36, having a shoulder 37 upon its outer part and secured at its inner-end to a bracket 38, which is bolted orotherwisefirmly secured to the bottom of the car near one side thereof. It will thus be seen that the lever 33 is located adjacent to one side of the car and in such position as to be readily reached by an operator standing at the side of the car. Now when it is desired to couple two cars'the said cars are simply brought together,

the springs 17 automatically forcing the hooked jaws 20 of the coupling-heads 19 over and into locking engagementwith each other. When the cars are to be uncoupled, the operator (in the case of a passenger-car) mounts the platform .30 and throws the upper end of the lever 28 inward, and thus, through the medium of the chain 27, moving the couplingheadlaterally out of coupling position against the action of the spring 17. If the car he. a freight-car, when it isdesired to unconplethe attendant or operator stands at one side of the car and reaching beneath the car-body draws the free. end of the lever 33 outward. This movement of the lever, acting through the chain 27, moves the coupling-head 19 laterally out of coupling position against the spring 17, and the cars can then be readily drawn apart. The coupling-heads are held in uncoupled position by the shoulder 37 on the stop-bar and by a similar shoulder 39 on astopbar 40, which is secured to the platform of the passenger-car. In either case it will be seen that there is absolutely no necessity for the operator or attendant to pass between the cars either while such cars are being coupled or uncoupled, and it will also be seen that the coupling operation is entirely automatic. The outer extremities of the jaws 21 of the coupling-heads 19 are preferablyformed with horizontal recesses 40 to receive the links of cars having the ordinary link -;and-pin couplings, and said jaws are alsov preferably provided with vertical openingsel to receive the pins of such couplings.

This improved coupling is strong, durable, and simple and inexpensive in construction, is not liable to accidental uncoupling, and is easily and quickly operated.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim as new thereimand desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An improved automatic car coupling comprising alaterallyemovable coupling-head having .ahooked coupling-jawand a laterallyextend-ing companion jaw, a chain connected tothe hooked jaw a lever pivoted upon the car and connected to said chain,.andlan, opening in the companion jaw designedto receive a chain connected to the opposite car, sub stantially as set forth.

2. An improved automatic car-coupling comprisingalaterally-movable spring-pressed coupling head, a chain connected to said head, a sheave for said. chain,.secu,red' beneath the car-body between the lever and the head,

a lever connected tov said chain and pivoted under the car-body near oneside thereofland a'stop-bar secured beneath the car-body adjacent to the said lever and having a shoulder to be engagedby said lever, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereofl affix my signature in "presence of twov witnesses.

HEINRICH SOMMERFELD.

Vitnesses: Q

J NO. L. CONDRON, H. E. PRICE. 

